$216,000 raised by Rep. Spencer Bachus for his legal defense

Seventy individuals, companies, associations and political action committees -- most of them from Alabama -- gave up to $5,000 each to Bachus' legal defense fund.

WASHINGTON -- The biggest names in Birmingham business donated more than $216,000 to help Rep. Spencer Bachus pay his lawyers for work during a five-month ethics investigation, new documents show.

Seventy individuals, companies, associations and political action committees -- most of them from Alabama -- gave up to $5,000 each to Bachus' legal defense fund between April and July, according to the disclosure forms Bachus filed with the U.S. House of Representatives.

Bachus in late April was cleared by the Office of Congressional Ethics of allegations that he used his official position to inform his personal investment decisions. The investigation, which began late last year, forced Bachus to hire attorneys and compile financial documents for the office to review.

Most of the money raised by the legal defense fund -- $207,000 of it -- went to two law firms in June and July; Bachus already had reported to the Federal Election Commission that he paid $422,000 in legal fees between December and April from his campaign account.

The legal defense fund was created in February and the August report was its first disclosure of any financial activity. Bachus now has three separate accounts that he raises money for: the legal defense fund, his own campaign account and a leadership PAC that he uses to support the campaigns ofÂ other Republican candidates.

Many of the donors to the legal defense fund are regular supporters of Bachus, who is running for an 11th term and is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

The four Alabama-based associations that contributed $5,000 each represented hospitals, retailers, community bankers and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Some of the companies that donated $5,000 were Alfa Mutual Insurance Co., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Drummond Company, McWane Inc., Protective Life Corp., Thompson Tractor Co., and Vulcan Materials. Seven partnerships gave a total of $27,500, including the law firm of Riley and Jackson, where Rob Riley -- son of the former governor -- is a partner.

Some of the individual donors include James Gorrie, president of Brasfield and Gorrie; Donald Hess, CEO of Southwood Partners; James Lee III, chairman and CEO of Buffalo Rock Co.; John Secrist, president and CEO of Southern Research Institute; and state Sen. Jabo Waggoner.

The legal defense fund also got contributions from accounts controlled by other politicians, such as state Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster; Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper; U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia; state Rep. Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills; U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.; and state Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston.

Bachus' own leadership PAC also gave $5,000.

Bachus for years was dogged by questions about his active personal stock trading, especially as a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee. But a 2011 book made specific allegations that he structured some trades in direct response to non-public information he gleaned as a high-ranking member of Congress. Bachus denied wrongdoing and cooperated with the OCE investigation.

The issue was explosive in Congress and a new law was passed to clarify that members of Congress also are subject to laws against insider trading.Â